124 complaints reported

2004 Honda Pilot Power Train

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
124
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Injuries
1

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jul 2014

INTERMITTENT, AUDIBLE VIBRATION/SHUDDER BETWEEN 35-50 MPH WHILE ACCELERATING. DEALER INSPECTION BELIEVES IT'S THE TORQUE CONVERTER. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jul 2014
Mar 2014

I HAVE 2004 HONDA PILOT LX. WHEN TRAVELING AT ABOUT 30-50 MPH. HEAR AND FEEL A VIBRATION WHEN AT CONSISTENT SPEED. SEEMS AS IF IT'S COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. MAYBE FROM A DRIVE SHAFT OR PROPELLER SHAFT OR SOMETHING. IT'S GETTING MUCH AND MUCH WORST AS DAYS GOES BY. I AM WORRIED SOMETHING CAN COME LOOSE WHEN VEHICLE IN MOVING MOTION. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Mar 2014
Jan 2014

WHILE DRIVING TO THE AIRPORT FOR FAMILY VACATION, MY 2004 PILOT STARTED MAKING A GRINDING SOUND EVERY FEW MINUTES. WHEN WE RETURNED 2 WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN BETWEEN 20 AND 40 MILES PER HR. IT CONTINUED MAKING SAME GRINDING SOUNDS. HAD MY MECHANICS LOOK AT IT SUGGESTED CHANGING TRANSMISSION FLUID AND DIFFERENTIAL FLUID, DID SO BUT IT KEPT ON MAKING GRINDING SOUNDS. RECENTLY GOT A NOTICE FOR ANOTHER RECALL ON MY PILOT, LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE TRANSMISSION SOON AFTER I BOUGHT MY PILOT IN 2004. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS RECALL. PILOT STILL GRINDING AND GETTING WORSE. CALLED DEALER THIS MORNING AND SAID THAT MY VIN # WAS NOT RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. WHY AM I NOT GETTING A RECALL NOTICE FOR A PROBLEM THAT HONDA KNOWS ABOUT? *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Nov 2012
Dec 2013

NOTICED THAT THE D WAS FLASHING WHILE ON A MULTI-STOP TRIP TO VISIT FAMILY. THIS FIRST OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND THERE WERE NO OTHER INDICATIONS THAT THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHEN I STOPPED FOR GAS THE LIGHT STOPPED FLASHING AND EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE FINE. I CONTINUED ON TO THE FIRST STOP OF MY TRIP. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER I DROVE TO THE 2ND STOP OF MY TRIP AND WHILE DRIVING IN AND AROUND TOWN ON THE 2ND DAY THERE THE D STARTED FLASHING AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AT THAT TIME I DID NOT KNOW THAT THERE HAD BEEN A TRANSMISSION RECALL AND SO I AUTHORIZED THE REPAIR. THAT REPAIR WAS A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REBUILD WHICH COST 2638.42. SINCE FINDING OUT ABOUT THE RECALL AND THE OTHER TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS I FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS REPAIR. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: May 2013
Oct 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEARS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2013
Oct 2013

WHILE DRIVING AROUND 30-50 MILES AN HOUR MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAKING A SHUDDERING NOISE WITH A VIBRATION AND WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING THE RPMS WITH MOVE UP AND DOWN WITH AS THE SHUDDERING PROGRESSES. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE YEAR AND MAKE OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO VERIFY THAT I NEED TO HAVE MY TORCH CONVERTER REPLACED AND IT WILL COST AROUND $1700.00 TO FIX IT. I'M CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE AS IT COULD CAUSE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2013
Oct 2013

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON MY 2004 HONDA PILOT WITH ONLY 157,000 MILES ON IT. THANKFULLY, IT WAS IN A PARKING GARAGE AND DID NOT CAUSE ANY INJURIES OR BLOCKED ROADWAYS OTHER THAN A BUSY PARKING GARAGE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 2013
Aug 2013

DRIVING AROUND TOWN TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. AVOIDED CRASH. RECALL ON MY VEHICLE WAS NEVER PERFORMED. NOW MY TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR HONDAS NEGLIGENCE? WE PURCHASE THIS NEW IN 2004 THE RECALL WAS IN THE SAME YEAR. ALWAYS DEALER MAINTAINED. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!! MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT IN A SERIOUS CRASH!! NOW MY VEHICLE IS AT AAMCO FOR THE REPAIRS. HONDA WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS NEVER DONE? HONDA NEVER REPAIRED IT !! I MY FAMILY WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER HONDA PRODUCT AGAIN, SORRY BUY MY FAMILY'S WELL BEING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THEIR PROFITS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2013
Jul 2013

I NOW HAVE BEEN THE VICTIM FOR THE 2ND TIME OF WHAT IS UNQUESTIONABLY A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW IN THE TRANSMISSION / TORQUE CONVERTER OF THE SHARED POWER TRAIN FOR HONDA PILOTS ('03 ,'04) HONDA ODYSSEY VANS ('02 TO '04) & ACURA MDX ('01, '02). I OWNED A PRISTINE 2001 ACURA MDX WITH JUST OVER 100K MILES ON IT WHICH EXPERIENCED THE ALL TOO COMMON TRANS./ TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE ONLY A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED IT FROM A HONDA DEALER. THIS HAPPENED IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THE POWER TRAIN RECALL (SANCTIONED BY NHTSA) HAD BEEN COMPLETED IN 2004. I PARTED WAYS WITH THE VEHICLE, INCURRING A SUBSTANTIAL LOSS. BUT THE NIGHTMARE CONTINUES, AS UNFORTUNATELY, MY OTHER VEHICLE IS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. RIGHT AFTER I PURCHASED IT NEW IN 2004, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER SINCE THE MODEL WAS SUBJECT TO A NEARLY IDENTICAL POWER TRAIN RECALL AS THE MDX AND ODYSSEY. MY DEALER SAID MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, & THAT MY NEW PILOT SHOULD BE FINE. YET @ 60K, THE "D" LIGHT ON THE SHIFTER DISPLAY STARTED TO BLINK FROM TIME TO TIME. EACH TIME THE DEALER SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE; SHUTTERING ON DOWNSHIFTING OVER THE YEARS WAS PASSED OFF BY THE DEALER AS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE. THEN LAST WEEK, THE POWER TRAIN FAILED ON THIS VEHICLE AS WELL. THIS TIME MY SON WAS DRIVING, & THE CAR SHUTTERED SO BADLY THAT IT NEARLY WENT OUT OF CONTROL. THIS CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED & I HAVE ALL SERVICE RECORDS. CLEARLY THE RECALL "REMEDY" FOR THIS MAJOR DESIGN FLAW HAS NOT SOLVED THE ISSUE, AND THESE POWER TRAINS STILL PRESENT A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE VEHICLE OPERATOR & OTHERS ON THE ROAD WHO MAY NEED TO AVOID A DISABLED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THEM. PLEASE DO SOMETHING! IF YOU TOTAL ALL THE POWER TRAIN COMPLAINTS FOR THE RECALL YRS. ON THESE 3 MODELS, YOU GET NEARLY 3000. THE LEGITIMACY OF NHTSA IS AT STAKE. THIS "SOLUTION" WAS A GOOD DEAL FOR HONDA, BUT IT HAS NOT PROTECTED THE PUBLIC! *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2007
Jul 2013

I WAS DUE FOR MY YEARLY VEHICLE INSPECTION. PRIOR TO GETTING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE INSPECTION AND TOLD THEM THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THE CODE THAT CAME UP WAS FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE DID NOT PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THIS AND I WAS ISSUED A PIECE OF PAPER TO PLACE IN THE WINDOW THAT GIVES ME 10 DAYS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CAR IS A 2004 HONDA PILOT WITH 158470 MILES.IT HAS SHOWN NO SIGNS OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 2013
Jun 2013

AT SPEEDS OF BETWEEN 30-45 MPH, CAR WOULD SHAKE AND MAKE GRINDING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. THIS REPEATEDLY HAPPENED FOR YEARS BUT MY DEALER SAID THEY "COUDN'T REPLICATE THE NOISE" AND DID NOT TELL ME THAT IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION. THEN I GET A NOTICE SAYING THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION RECALL ISSUE. THE TWO FIX-IT OPTIONS WERE AN OIL JET KIT AND REPLACE THE TRANNY. THE DEALER GAVE ME A OIL JET KIT, BUT THE TRANSMISSION HAS CONTINUED TO GO BAD EVER SINCE WITH NO OTHER REPLACEMENTS OR OFFER OF REPAIR BY THE DEALER. THIS IS A BAD TRANSMISSION! AMERICAN HONDA HAS OFFERED TO NOW PAY ME 30% OF THE REPLACEMENT COST WHICH WILL STILL COST ME $3500, FOR A REFURBISHED TRANSMISSION. I AM TAKING THIS TO THE TOP- HONDA SHOULD NOT BE HAVING ME PAY FOR A TRANSMISSION THAT THEY KNEW WAS BAD. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jul 2004
Jun 2013

WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AND BEGAN DRIVING I NOTICED THAT THE GEAR CHANGE LEVER WAS GLIDING THROUGH R, N, D, ETC. RATHER THAN BEING FIRM IN EACH POSITION. LUCKILY, THE CAR DID NOT FALL OUT OF GEAR. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED FROM THE SHOP THAT THE ONLY THING HOLDING IT IN GEAR AS I DROVE WAS THIS VERY LOOSE LEVER. THIS WAS EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE! THE DETERMINATION IS THAT THE SHIFT SELECTOR ASSEMBLY INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION IS BROKEN AND A NEW TRANSMISSION IS REQUIRED. I AM DISMAYED TO SEE HOW MANY HONDAS REQUIRE NEW TRANSMISSIONS, AND AM UPSET THAT DESPITE THE OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND THE NUMBER OF PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED, NO RECALL HAS OCCURRED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Nov 2013
May 2013

MY 2004 PILOT EX-RES STARTED A FAINT WHINING NOISE AROUND 73K MILES. THE NOISE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY MORE PRONOUNCED WITH TIME/MILES. THE NOISE IS ONLY AUDIBLE WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL AND IN THIRD GEAR. AS SOON AS THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED THE NOISE DISAPPEARS. I HAVE 93K MILES ON THE ODOMETER AS OF MAY 2013 AND THE NOISE IS NOW A HIGH PITCHED WHINING NOISE; IT IS VERY ANNOYING AND EASILY AUDIBLE INSIDE THE CABIN EVEN WITH THE WINDOWS CLOSED. I TOOK IT TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE THIS NOISE AND THEY TOLD ME IT IS THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND THAT IT WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL WITH THE TRANSMISSION; THEY ADVISED ME NOT TO DO ANYTHING AT THIS TIME SINCE THE FLUID AND TRANSMISSION PRESSURE LINES ALL CHECKED OUT GOOD. I WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR THIS RECOMMENDATION FROM THE SERVICE ADVISER. I TAKE IMMACULATE CARE OF MY CAR WITH ON THE SPOT OIL/FILTER/TRANSMISSION/VTM-4 FLUID CHANGES USING HONDA OEM PARTS AND QUALITY MOTOR OIL. I AM CONCERNED ONE DAY MY PILOT WILL LEAVE ME AND MY FAMILY STRANDED ON THE ROAD WITH A HUGE BILL TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER. I HAVE 2 SMALL KIDS AND THIS IS THE LAST THING I NEED TO WORRY ABOUT; MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL TO INSTALL THE OIL JET KIT. I BELIEVE HONDA SHOULD FUSS UP ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND ISSUE A PROPER FIX TO ALL AFFECTED OWNERS, OTHERWISE LOTS OF PEOPLE WILL LOOK ELSEWHERE FOR THEIR NEXT VEHICLE. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2013
May 2013

YESTERDAY MY HONDA PILOT STARTED ACTING IRREGULAR AS I WAS PULLING INTO A CONTROLLED INTERSECTION TURNING LEFT. MY PILOT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AS NORMAL AND LEFT ME STRANDED IN MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION AS ONCOMING TRAFFIC APPROACHED. TRAFFIC DID SLOW DOWN AND I SHIFTED INTO 2ND GEAR, AND THAT ALLOWED MY TO MOVE THROUGH SAFELY THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. NO ACCIDENT, JUST A ANGRY YOUNG MAN SHAKING HIS HAND AND SCREAMING THROUGH HIS WINDSHIELD. I CALLED HONDA AND OPEN A CASE # THIS MORNING. INTERESTINGLY, I CALL HONDA AND OPENED UP A CASE IN 2010, WITH SHUDDERING AND VIBRATION PROBLEMS AT 50-55 MPH. I BOUGHT NEW TIRES (ONLY 34K ON BRIDGESTONES), CHANGED DIFFERENTIAL FLUID ,VTM-4, EGR VALUE, EVEN HAD DRIVE SHAFT INSPECTED FOR VIBRATION, ANYTHING THAT WAS SUGGESTED TO ME. NOTHING FIXED ISSUE, SPOKE WITH SEVERAL OTHER PILOT OWNER (2003-2004) AND THEY SUGGESTED IT WAS NORMAL OPERATION AND THEIRS DOES THAT TOO. ONLY ITEM LEFT IN MY MIND WAS TORQUE CONVERTER. ASK HONDA FOR HELP. GAVE ME THE 3YRS/36,000 MILE SPEECH. NOW THE "D" INDICATION LIGHT FLASHES GREEN. INDICATING A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. TAKING TO DEALER THIS MORNING TO INSPECT. BEING VERY CAREFUL AT STOP AND GO LIGHTS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Dec 2013
Apr 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SOLENOID WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Mar 2013
Mar 2013

AT A TRAFFIC STOP EVERYTHING WA NORMAL, WHEN I ACCELERATED THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT THE D INDICATOR STARTED TO FLASH. BEFORE CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP I DID A SEARCH ON LINE AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER PILOT OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME 150.00 FOR THEM TO HOOK THE VEHICLE UP TO THEIR COMPUTERS. I NOW FOUND OUT THAT THE PROBLEM IS A SWITCH FOR THE FOURTH GEAR. MY VEHICLE RUNS GREAT AND SHIFTS VERY SMOOTHLY. MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER USE THIS VEHICLE TO GO BACK AND FORTH TO SCHOOL. IT APPEARS THAT HONDA HAS HAD OVER NINE YEARS TO FIX AND ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, WEATHER YOU ARE THE FIRST OWNER OR NOT, AND IF YOU PURCHASED IT FROM A HONDA DEALER SHOULD NOT BE A CONSIDERATION. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Feb 2013
Feb 2013

DRIVING ON FREEWAY TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY DIS-ENGAGED ( AS IF I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL ). WHILE "COASTING" I WAS ATTEMPTING TO SAFELY PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. AFTER APPROXIMATELY FIVE SECONDS THE TRANSMISSION RE-ENGAGED AND WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY AGAIN. I TOOK SURFACE STREETS FOR THE TEN MILE TRIP HOME AND THE PROBLEM OCCURRED FOUR ADDITIONAL TIMES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Sep 2013
Dec 2012

VEHICLE SHUDDERS AT 45 MPH, MAKING A "WHOOSH' SOUND AND SLOWING ABRUPTLY, IF BRIEFLY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: May 2011
Dec 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA PILOT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V176000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL PREVIOUSLY BU THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD FILE A COMPLAINT ON THE CONTACT'S BEHALF AND HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE GIVE HIM A RETURN CALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,104.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Dec 2012
Oct 2012

I HAVE NOTICED WHEN MY PILOT GETS BELOW 50 MPH IT GETS A SHUDDERING TO IT (NOT ALWAYS BUT MOST TIMES DRIVING IN THE CITY), ALMOST LIKE ITS DRIVING OVER A WASHBOARD. DURING A VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP I TALKED TO ANOTHER HONDA PILOT OWNER WHO WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING BUT THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT TELL HER WHAT THE ISSUE WAS. SO AFTER MORE INVESTIGATING SHE TOOK IT TO A NON-HONDA REPAIR PERSON WHO TOLD HER THE PROBLEM LIES WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND TO USE A PRODUCT CALLED SHUDDER FIX. MY QUESTION IS IF HONDA IS HAVING THESE COMPLAINTS WHY ARE THEY NOT FIXING THIS ISSUE AND STILL SELLING THESE VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM? I LOVE MY HONDA OTHER THAN THAT, BUT FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE WORKMANSHIP. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 2012
Oct 2012

PULLED VEHICLE INTO A SERVICE SHOP. TURNED OFF VEHICLE AND REMOVED KEY FROM IGNITION TO TAKE KEY OFF RING FOR TECHNICIAN. VEHICLE WAS NOT IN PARK BUT STILL IN DRIVE EVEN THOUGH I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE KEY. A MINUTE AFTER LEAVING VEHICLE CAR ROLLED DOWN SLIGHT INCLINE AND INTO AND ACROSS 3 LANES OF BUSY 40MPH TRAFFIC. TWO VEHICLES SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES AMAZINGLY MISSING BROADSIDING THE VEHICLE. A SECOND CHANGE IN THE TIMING WOULD HAVE CERTAINLY RESULTED IN THREE CAR ACCIDENT AND POTENTIALLY SERIOUS INJURIES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2012
Oct 2012

TRANSMISSION MADE A VERY LOUD NOISE WHEELS LOCKED UP, AND TRANS LOST FLUID THROUGH THE DRIVERS SIDE. UPON CLOSER EXAMINATION I FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION CASE HAD SMALL CRACKS AND THE TRANS WOULD LOCK-UP AS IF THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE GEARS LIKE A BOLT OR PIN OF SORTS IF DRIVEN EVEN A COUPLE OF FEET. COMPLETE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED, CONTACTED DEALER NO COVERAGE FROM HONDA. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Oct 2012
Sep 2012

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 60 MPH. NO WARNING, NO BLINKING LIGHTS, SOUNDS, SHUDDERING ETC. I WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF THE FREEWAY WITHOUT COLLISION! I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD $5000-$5500 FOR A TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE TRANSMISSION RECALL OF 2004. THIS IS DANGEROUS! I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT MY CHILDREN WERE NOT WITH ME AND THAT THERE WAS NO COLLISION. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Aug 2012
Aug 2012

MY 2004 HONDA PILOT HAS A SHUDDERING SOUND WHEN I GO ABOVE AROUND 35 MILES AN HOUR. IT IS VERY INTERMITTENT BUT CAN BE LOUD. MY LOCAL DEALER SAID THEY HAD TO GET A HONDA ENGINEER OUT TO LOOK AT IT AND IT IS VERIFIED TO BE THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE RESEARCHING IT HERE AND ON THE INTERNET. I AM FRUSTRATED THAT HONDA HAS NOT RECALLED THESE KNOWING THAT IT IS SUCH A WIDE SWEEPING ISSUE WITH PILOTS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jan 2012
Aug 2012

I TOOK MY HONDA PILOT TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE D LIGHT WAS FLASHING. THEY FOUND CODE P1740 INDICATING A 4TH PRESSURE SWITCH FAILURE. I RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE FOR $5,109 + TAX TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE CONVERTER. I DISCOVERED THE RECALL ISSUED FOR THE TRANSMISSION ON THE 2003-2004 HONDA PILOTS, BUT WHEN I CALLED HONDA, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE FOR THE TRANSMISSION. MY VEHICLE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL, SO I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY HONDA WOULD DENY SERVICING MY VEHICLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECALL. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 HONDA PILOT, Manufacturer: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)
Incident: Jun 2012

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2004 Honda Pilot has 124 Power Train complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.